Tennessee Football: The Vols' Most Underrated Recruits of 2015

On Feb. 4, 2015, Butch Jones will put the finishing touches on his third recruiting class as the head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers.

While Jones's first class, assembled in the final two months before national signing day in 2013, produced standout stars like Cam Sutton, Joshua Dobbs and Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Tennesse's 2014 class proved that Jones is an elite recruiter. 

Now, he's on the verge of repeating his success and perhaps even surpassing it with the Vols' 2015 class.

Of Tennessee's star-studded group of 28 recruits, 10 are already on campus and learning the ropes of life in the SEC. The rest will arrive in the early part of the summer and begin preparing for the upcoming season.

The Vols' 2015 class is ranked so highly due to the number of 4-star and 5-star recruits who pledged to spend their college careers on Rocky Top, but they aren't the only ones who have a chance to make an impact on their team.

Here are five of Tennessee's most underrated recruits of the 2015 class and the reasons why they could be big-time players for the Vols in the near future. 

Riley Lovingood: LS

At first glance, giving a scholarship to a long snapper in the midst of a roster overhaul seems like an odd decision. Why waste on a spot on a position that could otherwise be filled by a walk-on?

But unlike quarterback, running back or defensive end, long snapper is a position that you never notice until something goes wrong. And when something goes wrong—a fumbled snap, a blocked punt—the results can be disastrous.

ESPN's Matt Remsberg reported in 2012 that coaches are coming around to the idea of offering elite long snappers precious scholarships to reduce the likelihood of those mistakes occurring during critical moments of the game. 

Having Riley Lovingood, who is 247Sports' No. 4 rated long snapper in the country, on the roster gives Jones a reliable contributor at a critical position through 2019, as he'll likely redshirt and train with redshirt senior Matt Giampapa next season. 

Kyle Oliver: TE

Tennessee's tight end position will be anchored by sophomore Ethan Wolf and redshirt senior Alex Ellis in 2015, but behind those two, there isn't a tremendous amount of experienced depth.

A.J. Branisel will be a redshirt sophomore after missing all of last season with an injury, and sophomore Neiko Creamer will step onto the field for the first time after his own redshirt season. 

Kyle Oliver, a 3-star recruit on 247Sports and the No. 21 tight end recruit in the country, has the size and athleticism to make the same impact as Wolf from day one. 

Even if he redshirts this season, Oliver could see significant playing time in 2016 with the departure of Alex Ellis. 

Stephen Griffin: DB

A class of 2015 early enrollee, Stephen Griffin arrived in Knoxville earlier this month and is already taking part in winter workouts to prepare for spring camp.

Griffin isn't the most heralded defensive back in his class, but his size alone makes him an intriguing prospect.

Listed at 6'2" and 185 pounds on his official UTSports.com bio, Griffin's height will make him the tallest defensive back on Tennessee's roster. 

With so many teams recruiting towering wide receivers who have major advantages over shorter defensive backs, Griffin may be the Vols' go-to guy in the near future to limit those mismatches. 

Zach Stewart: OL

Hailing from the small town of Coalfield, Tennessee, Zach Stewart committed to Jones and his staff in April 2013 and never looked back.

A 3-star recruit on 247Sports and the No. 64 offensive tackle in the country, Stewart was named Tennessee's Mr. Football in Division 1 Class A high school football in December 2014.

With three redshirt seniors returning and several other experienced players battling it out to make the rotation on Tennessee's offensive line, it's unlikely Stewart will see the field in 2015.

But at 6'4" and 295 pounds as a high school senior, there's no doubt that a year spent learning the playbook and hitting the weight room will pay off for Stewart once the offensive line suddenly has three open positions in 2016. 

Kendall Bussey: RB

All eyes will be on sophomore Jalen Hurd and junior college transfer Alvin Kamara in Tennessee's backfield in 2015, but don't count out freshman Kendall Bussey from making an impact.

Categorized as an athlete and all-purpose back, Bussey brings yet another wrinkle to Tennessee's offense alongside Hurd's power-running style and Kamara's speed and elusiveness. 

Ranked as the No. 30 athlete in the country in 247Sports' composite ratings, Bussey's 4.42 40-yard dash time make him well suited to play all over the field, including running back, slot wide receiver and even kick or punt returner.

Bussey committed to Tennessee on Oct. 20, 2014, and although he seems solid to the Vols, Texas A&M is making a late push for his services. His commitment is one to watch in the days leading up to national signing day, but if Tennessee can hold on, he's a player who can potentially see the field right away.